Rhythm-indicator for mechanical musical instruments.



No. 875.974. ,PATENTED JAN. 7, 19,108.

P. WUBSTfJR.

RHYTHM INDICATOR FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILEDOOT.19, 19M.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

' UNIT D STATES PHILIP WUEST, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTO-MANUAL PATENT OFFICE.

PIANO ACTION COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,-A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY.

RHYTml-INDICATOR FOR IIECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1 Patented Jan. 7. 1908.

Application filed October 19, 1904:- Serial No. 229.161.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, PHILIP WUEsT, Jr.,

of Philadelphia, in the State of'Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Rhythm-Indicators for Mechanical MusicalInstruments, whereof the followin is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings. My invention is applicable toinstruments provided with automatic playing mechanism comprising aseries of levers in operative relation to sounding devices, such as thestrings of a piano, and arrangedto be actuated in any predeterminedsequence by means of independent pneumatic mechanism controlled by anote sheet or web of perforated paper, which is progressed with respectto a pneumatic tracker bar rovided with a series of apertures correspon'ng with the series of pneumatic mechanisms.

My invention relates articularly to an indicating device arranged toenable the operator to precisely ascertain the 'rhythmof the measures orother time divisions of the musical composition represented by a notesheet in operative relation to said tracker .bar, and thus be advised ofthe exact instant tween the adjoining rhythm indicating marks, measuredlongitudinally of the sheet, being variedin accordance with the tempo ofthe composition.

My invention also utilizes such an arrangement of the rhythm symbolstransversely of the note sheet that they also indicate thecorrecttransverse position of the tempo controller, for instance, eitherby an interruption in the transverse length of said lines, or by asymbol associated therewith, manifesting such position.

As hereinafter described, myinvention includes a tem o controllingmechanism having a 1 mova le member provided with a panel, of glass orother suitable material,

orrning altransparent field bearing a dot or other index mark, withouapparent sup porting connection with said mechanism,

lation of said index mark to the rh symbols upon the note sheet withwhich it is to be employed.

claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Fi

vice, taken on theline II, II, in Fig. I.

' instrument frame known as t e music box, supporting the tracker bar 2.The perforated Web or note sheet 4, is arranged to be progresseddownwardly over said tracker bar 2, from the roll 6, to the roll 7, byrotation of the shaft 9, of said roll 7. It is to be understood that theinstrument, comprises a variable speed motor for eliecting such rotationand that the 'speed of such rotation may be controlled by movement ofthe rod 12. For instance, if the'motor is a pneumatic one; said rod mayconnect with a valveco'ntrolling thearea of an air portthrough whichsaid motor is actuated. However, it 18 to be understood that thearrangement is. such that when said rod 12, is moved to the right inFig. I, the speed of (progression of said web 4, is increased, an whensaid rod is an ordinary metronome, and'the arrangement is such that.when said-index oint18,

, is in substantia rate as designated by-a metronome. Said moved in theopposite direction said s eed is SaidscaleZO, is conveniently rovidedwith graduations corresponding wit those upon.

registers with any one of said gra uations, 'the 'speed of pro ession ofthe note sheet 4,

correspondence with the a.

handle 17," is convemently mounted on the cross head 22, which issecured to the bar.l4, by. the set screw 23, and has its rear end ar soas to afford a clear view of the precise'rev v ,so My, inventioncomprises the various novel features of construction and arrangementhereinafter "more definitely specified and;

gure x 6 is a front elevation of a portion of an instru ment of theclass contemplated, embodying a convenient form of my invention. Fig.II, is a transverse sectional view of said de- In said'figures,-\1, isthat ortion of the ranged to slide in the bearing 24, on said box 1,.Said cross head 22, carries the arm 26,

-provided with the screw stud 27, arranged.

to detachably and adjustablyengage the .shank 28, of the index frame 29,which sup- 33, at the opposite si es thereof, in ahnement with saidindex dot 31, so that the precise' instant when any one oi the rhythmsymbols or lines-35, on said web 4, registersiwith said dot 31, may beaccurately .rco ized by thew operator, and the expression dvice of theinstrument be controlled in accordance therewith.

As shown at the-left hand side of Fig. I, the lines 35, may be providedwith circular symbols 36, indicating variations in the tempocorresponding with 'the respective pulses, by the numerals marked in thecircles corresponding with the numerals on the scale 20; or, asindicated at the upper portion of Fig. 1, symbols 38,.indicatingvariations in the tempo contemporaneous with the re spective pulses orthe rhythm may be located. in the lines 35, transversely with respect tothe sheet 4, to determine the-corresponding position of the index dot31, and the tempo cbntrolling mechanism to which it is connected,indicated by the numerals marked within the circles of said symbols.However, said symbols may be omittedvand the proper position-of theindex dot 31, be indicated by the termination of the tranisverse lines35, at difierent regions in the transverse width of the sheet 4', indefinite relation to the corresponding position of said tempocontrolling device, determined by said (lot 31 or there may beinterruptions in the length of said lines 35, in correspondence with thedesired position of said dot 31.

- Although I have shown the transparent panel 30, as of uniformthickness throughout its extent, it is to be understood'that its surfacem'ay be curved to constitute it a lens capable of rendering the rhythmindicators more conspicuous during their conjunction therewith:

It will be noted that in my-invention the indicating device, whereby thesymbols upon the moving sheet can be recognized in their true relationto the progress of the sheet, is combined with a moving member of thetempo controlling mechanism so as to directly accompany the manualmovement of the latter. Ordinarily, the features of tern o and rhythmare so close as to substantia ly coincide, and even when this is notabsolutely the case, the relation between them may be said to bepractically constant. Hence the organization characteristic of myinvention permits the o erator to concentrate his attention to the estadvantage, the movement the hand, without conscious effort, this .pointof the indicator.- t It will also be noted that the rh thin symproperrelation to the tempo corresponding being rendered, w l e their locationlon'ipulses or rhythm. Thus, in watchingfor tlie rhythm symbols, andinoving the handle 'Bols are located transversely of t e sheet in tothatrparticularfiportion of the selection tudinally ofithe sheetcorresponds to t e indicator, accompanying the movement of facilitatingthe recognition of the symbols as they approach and coincide with thecritical" connected with the panel 30, to cause the dot ,1

31,-toregister with said symbols respectivelyl' as they move along, the,operator' incidentally varies the tempo in accordance with the stant atwhich to manipulate the expression device. I

I donot desireto limit myself to the precise details of construction andarrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious thatvarious modificationsma departing from t e essential features of my invention.

I claim 1. In a mechanical musical instrument,

symbols s aced longitudinally of said sheet,

versely' of said sheet in a definite relation to the redeterminedposition of the tern 0 con trol er of means for progressing sai sheet; acontroller for varying the rate of movecarried by said controller andbearing an indexmark adapted'to be moved to register with the symbols onsaid sheet, whereby. the operator of the instrument may simultaneouslyvary the thmpo and ascertainthe recise moment for operating theexpression evice. a

2. In a. mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a notesheet having transverse lines spaced longitudinally. thereoncorresponding to the rh thm, said lines being provided with symbo slocated transversely of the sheet in a definite relation to theredetermined position of the tem 0 control er of means for progressingsai sheet; a controller for varying the rate of movement of said sheet;and a trans aren't panel carried by said member and caring an index markadapted to bemoved to register with the symbols on said sheet, wherebythe operator of the instrument may simultaneously vary the tempo andascertain the recise moment for operating the expression evice. 3. In-a' mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a note sheet;means for progressin the same; a movable member for contro ing the rateofmovement of said sheet; an index frame" connected with of the eye asit follows the shifting of the said member comprising opposed pointers;

selection, while ascertaining the exact in-- correspo'n ing to the rhthin and transbe made therein without the combination with a note sheethaving ment of said sheet; and a transparentpanel and a transparentpanel supported by said frame and bearing an index mark in eline-vsponding to the rhythm of the selection, said s bols bein locatedtransversely of said 3 eet'in a'definite'relation to the predeterminedositio'n of the tem 0 controller; of means or progressing said s eet;and a controller for varying the'r'ate of movement of said sheetprovided with Ineanscooperating With said symbols to enable the operatorto ascertain the precise instant at which an accent or beat occurs.-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this 17th da of October, 1904.

lHILIP \VUES'I, JR. Witnesses:

ARTHUR E.'PAIGE, ANNA F. GETZFREAD,

